ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation has an exciting new reading event that kids will love – the Family Literacy Day (FLD) World Record Attempt. On Friday, January 23 and/or Saturday January 24, as a kick-off to Family Literacy Day, schools, libraries, community centres, Oxford Learning centres, YMCAs, literacy centres, shopping centres, and homes will be part of a Canada-wide attempt to break the Guinness World Record™ for Most Children Reading with an Adult, Multiple Locations www.abc-canada.org/fldworldrecord.

The current Guinness World Record™ of 78,791 was set in the US in 2006. Pre-registration for the FLD World Record Attempt has already exceeded 40,000 participants – and every day thousands more register. Tallies from all the events will be combined for the record-breaking grand total – Canada is well on our way to breaking the Guinness World Record!

Here’s how to organize an FLD World Record Attempt that qualifies for the Guinness World Record:

• All the readings must happen during the same 24-hour period across Canada – between Friday, January 23 at 2:00 p.m. EST and Saturday, January 24 at 2:00 p.m. EST.
• Readings must be 30 minutes long, with an adult reading aloud to kids.
• Everyone must read the same five stories from the Robert Munsch collection Munschworks 2, or the five individual books in this order: Pigs; Mortimer; Purple, Green and Yellow; Murmel, Murmel, Murmel; Something Good
• There must be at least one adult reader for every 35 children. If you have more than 35 kids, you need another adult reader.
• An independent witness must observe the reading for the full 30 minutes.
• Pre-register online by January 22 www.abc-canada.org/en/fld/2008/register.cgi.
• Print the registration form and fill it in after your event www.abc-canada.org/en/system/files/Registration_Form.pdf.
• Have your witness prepare a witness statement www.abc-canada.org/en/system/files/Witness.pdf.
• After the event, mail the registration form and witness statement to ABC CANADA.

ABC CANADA’s website has everything you need to register, organize, promote, and document your FLD World Record Attempt event www.abc-canada.org/en/fld/events. For more information, email fld@abc-canada.org.

ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation is Canada’s private-sector voice championing adult literacy. The national charity envisions a Canada where individuals, regardless of their circumstances, are provided the opportunities to increase the skills that prepare people for realizing their full potential at work, at home and in the community. Family Literacy Day, held annually on January 27, was developed by ABC CANADA and Honda Canada in 1999 to encourage families to read and learn together on a daily basis. To learn more, visit www.abc-canada.org.